Rope and chain clamp.



J. S. SOUREK.

ROPE AND CHAIN CLAMP.

APPLIGATIOH FILED SEPT.10, 1909.

976,940. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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JOSEPH S. SOUBEK, OF BATH TOWNSHIP, SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO.

ROPE AND CHAIN CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. SOUREK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bath township, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope and Chain Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rope or chain clamp and the object thereof is to provide a device of the character specified comprising a body portion provided with a fixed jaw and on which is mounted a movable jaw adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw for engaging a rope, chain or similar instrumentality in a manner permitting the free movement of the rope or chain in one direction and preventing its movement in the opposite direction.

The invention contemplates providing the movable jaw with a finger or trip adapted to be manually manipulated for releasing the movable jaw from a rope or chain to permit the free movement of the latter.

It is further entirely within the scope of this invention to provide the movable jaw with a hook, loop or other device for connecting the device with an anchorage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class designated, which will be strong, safe, durable, easily constructed, readily applied and capable of performing in an efficient manner all the necessary functions of a device of this character.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar refer ence numerals indicate like parts in the different figures: Figure l is a perspective view of a clamp embodying this invention; and, Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the frame or body portion of the clamp preferably com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 10, 1909.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Serial No. 517,163.

prises two lateral parallel members 1, l, spaced apart from each other and each of the general shape shown in the drawings. The upper ends of these members 1, 1, are connected by a. transversely-extending element 2 the inner face of which is formed upon sinuous lines to provide transverselyextending corrugations and constituting the fixed jaw of the clamp. These corrugations are preferably formed with two convex portions 3, 3, between which is a concave groove 4:. The lateral members 1, 1, and transverse member 2 are all preferably formed integral, although it is entirely within the scope of this invention to make the member 2, constituting the fixed jaw, in a separate piece and afterward suitably unite it to the members 1, 1. It will be apparent that the precise form of the member 2, constituting the fixed jaw ofthe clamp, may be varied from that shown in the drawings, although the form shown is the preferred one. The lower portion of each of the members 1, 1, is formed with a forwardly-projecting arm 5 which are united at their outer ends by a cross-bar 6 the function of which will appear later. The lower portion of each of said lateral members 1, 1, is further provided with suitable apertures through which extends a pin 7.

Pivotally-mounted on the pin 7 is the movable member of the clamp comprising an upwardly-extending member 8, preferably formed upon curvilinear lines and with its upper or working face formed, if desired, with a plurality of corrugations 9 to cooperate with the fixed jaw 2 for engaging a rope or chain. The'portion 8 of the movable member of the clamp preferably extends be tween the lateral members 1, 1, of the frame or body portion of the device and is adapted to move freely therein; and the lower portion thereof is provided with a forwardlyextending finger or trip 10 of less width than the space between the arms 5 and capable of free movement therein. This finger or trip, 10 is arranged at such an angle with respect to the upwardly-extending portion 8 that when the latter is in engaging relation with a rope or chain, the former will project upwardly above the arms 5, 5, so as to be in a suitable position for ready manipulation by the user of the device. The lower portion of the movable member is preferably formed with suitable means for connecting the device to an anchorage and this means is illustrated in the drawingsby two depending ears l1 spaced from each other through which extends a pin 12 to pivotallysupport a member 13, illustrated in the drawings by a hook, although a loop or any other device may be employed and still be entirely within the scope of this invention.

The device is capable of being used in a great variety of ways, and as illustrative of one of the ways it will be stated that the member 13 maybe connected by a suitable connecting means, such as a rope or chain, to an anchorage,- after which a rope, chain or similar instruinentality is passed between the fixed and movable jaws of the device and there held from being withdrawn by the clamping action of the two jaws. Of course it will be obvious that any strain or tension placed upon the rope which is en' gaged by the jaws will tend to cause the'latter to engage the same more firmly. When it is desired to loosen the clamp a slight pressure upon the finger or trip 10, tending to bring it into alinement with the arms 5, will free the rope from the action of the jaws, thereby releasing the rope and permit ting its ready withdrawal.

It will be noted that the finger or trip 10 is arranged so that when the fixed and mov-' able jaws of the clamp are in operative engagementwith a rope or chain, it will stand at a slight inclination with respect to the forwardly-projecting arms 5 so as to leave a wedge-shaped space between the arms 5 and the under face of the finger or trip 10. It has already been described that in order to release the movable jaw from operative engagement with a rope or chain the finger or trip 10 is depressed to bring it into aline- 'ment with the arms 5, but experience has demonstrated that where the engagement of the movable jaw with the rope or chain is tenacious the movement of the finger or trip 10 requires considerable effort, and in order to assist in the manipulation of this trip the arms 5 are employed constituting an abutment for the hand so as to permit the thumb or finger to be used in depressing the finger or.t-rip 10, while the balance of the hand incloses the arms 5, thus aiding the hand by providing suitable means which may be grasped thereby during the act of shifting the position of the finger or trip 10; that is to say, the two members, viz. the finger 10 and the arms 5 constitute spaced members the inner ends of which are pivoted together in the same manner as the inner ends of a pair of shears or pincers, thereby enabling the operator to utilize the strong grasp of the hand instead of depending solely upon the comparatively weak'effort of a single finger or thumb.

I claim:

A rope or chain clamp embodying a pair of spaced body members, a transverse member united to and extending between the upper ends thereof, the inner face of said trai'isverse member adapted to constitute a fixed jaw, each of said members provided with an aperture, said apertures in alinement with each other, a pin in said alined apertures, a movable member pivotallymounted on said pin one end of which is fashioned to constitute a jaw for coiiperating with said fixed jaw, said movable member provided at a point approximately opposite said jaw portion with means for connecting said movable member to an anchorage and further provided with a radiallyprojecting finger to constitute means for withdrawing said movable jaw from operative engagement with a rope or chain.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. SOUR-Eli.

lVitnesses C. E. HUMPI-IREY, GLENARA Fox 

